History Literature / FateZero

FourLinesAllWaiting - Unlike ''FateStayNight'', which was written primarily from Shirou's point of view, ''FateZero'' is written in ThirdPersonOmniscient, following the stories of all the Masters, and as a consequence, frequently leaves TheHero Kiritsugu OutOfFocus.

* BiggerBad - Ultimately, [[spoiler:the Grail itself, corrupted by Angra Mainyu]]. Its corruption is what likely causes it to [[spoiler:choose Kirei as a Master]] despite him having no interest in it, or even knowing what it was up to that point, simply because it's attracted to [[spoiler:Kirei's [[ObliviouslyEvil hidden evil desires]]]].

* DualWielding - Diarmuid uses dual ''spears'', though not always at thesame time. The Black Knight's tendency to grab whatever is on hand also leads to this (spear plus axe).

* ForegoneConclusion - FateZero is written under the assumption that the reader has already finished FateStayNight. A fairly early author's note warns that you really shouldn't be expecting a happy ending, and that the writer will probably have to kill his entire cast in order to fit his ending into the timeline established in the previous story.

* [[FunctionalMagic Functional]] HermeticMagic - FateZero expands the {{Canon}} considerably regarding magecraft concepts.

''Fate/Zero'' is a collaboration, a series of four illustrated novels written by GenUrobuchi (of [[{{Nitroplus}} Nitro+]] fame) and illustrated by Takashi Takeuchi of [[TypeMoon TYPE-MOON]], under the direction of Kinoko Nasu. Based in the {{Nasuverse}}, it refers to [[FunctionalMagic concepts and ideas]] of other Nasu works, mainly ''Fate/stay night''. The first volume was released in December 2006, while the last was released in December 2007. It was first adapted into a Drama CD, with music by ZIZZ Studio (composers for the majority of [[{{Nitroplus}} Nitro+]] works). A manga adaptation has begun serialization, and a TV series (by {{ufotable}} of ''Anime/KaraNoKyoukai'' fame, with music by YukiKajiura, and starring the Drama CD cast) started to air in [[Fall2011Anime Fall 2011]].

''Fate/Zero'' is a collaboration, a series of four illustrated novels written by [[VisualNovel/SayaNoUta Gen]] [[PhantomOfInferno Ur]][[{{Blassreiter}} obu]][[PuellaMagiMadokaMagica chi]] (of [[{{Nitroplus}} Nitro+]] fame) and Takashi Takeuchi of [[TypeMoon TYPE-MOON]], under the direction of Kinoko Nasu. Based in the {{Nasuverse}}, it refers to [[FunctionalMagic concepts and ideas]] of other Nasu works, mainly ''Fate/stay night''. The first volume was released in December 2006, while the last was released in December 2007. It was first adapted into a Drama CD, with music by ZIZZ Studio (composers for the majority of [[{{Nitroplus}} Nitro+]] works). A manga adaptation has begun serialization, and a TV series (by {{ufotable}} of ''Anime/KaraNoKyoukai'' fame, with music by YukiKajiura, and starring the Drama CD cast) started to air in [[Fall2011Anime Fall 2011]].

* EnemyMine: Crops up several times during the early part of the Holy Grail War. [[WorthyOpponent Saber and Lancer]] are the most common allies, whilst [[ConflictKiller Caster]] is the most common target.

* GunPorn - Gen Urobuchi gave a whole lot of detail to the weapons that Kiritsugu uses. To wit, Kiritsugu's weapons are a Calico M950 sub-machine gun, a Walter [=WA2000=] sniper rifle (with night scope and heat vision sensors), and his Mystic Code the Thompson Contender, customized with his [[DepletedPhlebotinumShells Origin Bullets]]. The anime also shows other weapons in a couple of {{lock and load montage}}s.

The anime will be streamed for free with subtitles in eight different languages by Aniplex on NicoNico as it airs. Weekly episodes can be found [[http://ch.nicovideo.jp/channel/fate-zero here.]]

* PoorCommunicationKills - If Kariya and Tokiomi had been able to put aside thir mutual hatred for long enough to explain ''why'' they felt as they do, or if Aoi and Kariya had bothered to talk about their situation ''at all'', then Aoi's death and Sakura's [[spoiler:[[HighOctaneNightmareFuel eleven years of torture]]]] could perhaps have been prevented.

* There is a second purpose to this, as well - [[spoiler: If a Servant is killed before the Master is, the Master's Command Spells revert to the Grail, which can reassign them to another Master. And those who were selected previously as Masters get preferential treatment...]]

** This is due in part to the amount of budget required to animate Ionioi Hetairoi. (That, and the fact that the OP was removed due to time constraints. WordOfGod confirms that 5 minutes;of removed footage, will be added back in the blu-ray release.)

** This is due in part to the amount of budget required to animate Ionioi Hetairoi. (That, and the fact that the OP was removed due to time constraints. WordOfGod confirms 5 minutes of removedfootage will be added back in the blu-ray release.)

* OffModel - The largest complaint for Episode 11. (Not as bad DEEN levels, though.)

* OffModel - The largest complaint for Episode 11.

* ConspicuousCG - Various examples of architecture, vehicles, and attack effects and Berserker as a whole in the anime.

* BiggerBad - Ultimately, the Grail itself, corrupted by Angra Mainyu. Its corruption is what likely causes it to choose Kotomine Kirei as a Master despite him having no interest in it, or even knowing what it was up to that point, simply because it's attracted to Kotomine's [[ObliviouslyEvil hidden evil desires]]. Gilgamesh sort of counts to, as he is the one who awakens Kirei to his ForTheEvulz self.

** [[MemeticMutation GAR]]serker - for obvious reasons

* BadassFamily -

** Before that there was [[spoiler:Iskander]] vs. Assassin. [[spoiler:All of the Assassins, counting in the dozens]]. Cue [[spoiler:Ionian Hetaroi: Army of the King]], and the fight becomes such a ridiculously one-sided slaughter the author doesn't even ''bother telling you about it'' though in the anime [[spoiler:we see the assassins either run, fight to their deaths, or directly face their deaths.]]

** Before that there was [[spoiler:Iskander]] vs. Assassin. [[spoiler:All of the Assassins, counting in the dozens]]. Cue [[spoiler:Ionian Hetaroi: Army of the King]], and the fight becomes such a ridiculously one-sided slaughter the author doesn't even ''bother telling you about it''.

** Caster ''might'' count, since his "Jeanne" doesn't respond to his feelings largely because she's ''not'' Jeanne.
*** It would seem that the Jeanne he refers to didn't respond to his feelings, either.

*** Lancer is TheAtoner when it comes to romance. [[spoiler: Pretty much any woman that glimpses his face falls instantly in love with him--it's a charm spell, Saber refers to it when they meet in the anime. One of his Noble Phantasms is a Charm Person spell, and he can't turn it off. In life this curse caused him to betray his king with the queen, apparently against his will as she put a geas on him. This is probably what happened with Sola, and it is why his loyalty to Kayneth is HonorBeforeReason.]]